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Midwest winters can seem endless. The payoff? Perfect summer temperatures! Each year I vow to savor every minute of the warm weather. Although I can’t put everything on hold, I...
“’Cause down the shore everything’s all right.” ---Tom Waits, JERSEY GIRL Some see the Jersey Shore as a travel destination, a place to take the family for a couple of...
Planning your family vacation can be overwhelming--where to go, what to do, how to get there, you name it. There are a lot of details to planning a summer vacation....
Summertime's almost here – time to start planning your summer travels! We've taken the guesswork out of your planning by seeking out advice from top family travel writers from across...
Air travel can be stressful nowadays with long lines, flight delays and cramped seating. Add luggage, children, strollers and even pets to the mix and you have a veritable powder...
Thomas Jefferson advised the we should have a revolution every 20 years. He meant government, but the idea applies to anything: If we don’t continually rethink how we do what...
Teens sometimes get a bad rap. People think they’re hard to please and harder to travel with. But the key to traveling with teens—and keeping the whole family happy—is to...
This month we are hosting our first Traveling Moms Instagram meme and we would love to have you join in the fun!
Summer vacations for some families mean active adventures, while for others the summer is a perfect time to start exploring college campuses. Imagine being able to do both in one...
Sure moms across the nation roam suburban streets in minivans and SUVs, picking up their kids from school and chauffeuring them to various activities and events. But I’m a soccer mom too dangit. Just because I drive a 4-door sedan, doesn’t mean I can’t have that title. Stereotype me! I deserve [ ... ]
There’s a reason “Follow the Honey,” in Cambridge, Massachusetts is not just a simple honey store. For founder and owner, anning, traveling the world on her personal journey led her to open a shop filled with honey stories to tell, and products with a conscience.
In Search of Healing an [ ... ]
Must we trade brunch dates and Bloody Mary’s for barely edible pancakes and sippy cups once we have kids? Hardly. Chicago restaurateurs, many of whom now claim the title of parents themselves, know how to host a good brunch which welcomes us and our progeny. Unlike some downtown areas which only [ ... ]
For those living in the middle of Missouri, there are only a few options for hitting the "big city" -- St. Louis, Mo., or Memphis, Tenn. Last spring, my gal pal Jessie and I chose to visit Memphis for the first time.
Our trip to Memphis might be one of the most unorganized trips I've ever take [ ... ]
I’m a sucker for an old-fashioned candy shop. I just love the candy-filled bins, the drugstore-feel complete with a bar and soda jerk…it makes everyone feel like a kid. With unique treats like Elvis Bark and chocolate-covered bacon, the Big Top Candy Shop in Austin, Texas is a fun treat for any [ ... ]
When planning out your summer road trip don't overlook Devil's Tower, Wyoming. It is one of my favorite side trips and possibly one of the most overlooked National Parks.
The first time I drove through Wyoming was in the summer of 1981 on a road trip with my my Mom. Somehow, in a pre-Internet [ ... ]
Vegetarian travel gets easier in the summer, when farmers markets and their bounteous produce draw tourists and local chefs. Summer is also know for outdoor eating, and New York City has one of the best (I’m slightly biased) eating extravagnzas, orgasburg. Actually, make that two. Smorgasburg ha [ ... ]
My kids love to stay in the water till they prune and when they were younger, we took a lot of cheap family vacations to area water parks. We could go overnight to Sesame Place, about 2 hours from New York City (and only an hour from Philadelphia) and take advantage of a ticketing policy that let you go for free in the late afternoon the day before you had a ticket. So essentially we got a second day free.
But one problem with water parks in the New York City is the vagaries of weather. We spent many visits there shivering, wrapped in towels, away from the water features.
Then friends told us about going to Florida in summer. We always assumed Florida was too hot and for a family holiday during the summer school break yes, it is hot and humid in July and August. But it is also considerably less crowded than during winter and spring breaks, and considerably cheaper.
We know plenty of people who drive to Florida from New York, but since none of my kids would even make it out of Brooklyn without puking, we never considered that.
But flights to Florida from New York are inexpensive in the summer. And my kids love staying at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort, in Orlando, where every room is a 2 bedroom suite and you can cook a little to save money.
From a kid’s perspective, the best thing is the water playground and you can save on a theme park admission by spending an entire day here. There are two water parks, with climbing structures, slides, fountains and zero-entry for toddlers or water phobic moms.
Then there is Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark, which has wet thrill rides, a wave pool and a lazy river. Just don’t do what we did once – we forgot our bathing suits. We spent over $200 at the park for our family of 5.
As the price to fly continues to rise, and the inconveniences rise, more and more people, and especially families, are turning back to the good, old-fashioned road trip.
My pa [ ... ]
Get a jump on your summer vacation with free activities all weekend in Vermont June 8 and 9. The Green Mountain State serves up a bevy of free family fun.
Free at parks
All we [ ... ]
Police, Fire and EMS Appreciation Days return in May. Police officers, fire fighters and EMS employees can receive a free single day admission to LEGOLAND Florida, along with [ ... ]
